Heat seal device of filling and packaging machine

ABSTRACT

In a heat seal device of a filling and packaging machine, wherein a continuously fed film F is vertically sealed by a vertical seal mechanism  19  and the laterally sealed by lateral seal mechanisms  20, 21,  contents W, W 1,  W 2  are filled in the film formed in the bottomed cylindrical shape and, while the film F is fed, a portion of the film F which forms a bag opening part side is sealed laterally by the lateral seal mechanisms  20,21  for continuously packaging as pouches P, the vertical seal mechanism  19  comprises a pair of rotating shafts  25  incorporating heaters H and mounted rotatably and two pairs of vertical seal rolls  31, 34  which are mounted in pairs on the rotating shafts  25  with a given distance in the axial direction of the rotating shafts  25  and have seal portions  30,35  protruded in a flange shape around outer peripheral portions thereof respectively, the heaters H incorporated in the rotating shafts  25  are disposed movably along the axial direction of the rotating shafts  25  with the position of the heaters H capable of being adjusted movably relative to the position of two pairs of the vertical seal rolls  31, 34.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a heat seal device of a filling and packagingmachine which forms packaging bags from a film wound in a roll shape andfills contents made of material in a liquid form, a powdery form or apaste form in the packaging bags.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As a filling and packaging machine for filling and packaging contentsmade of material in a liquid form, a powdery form or a paste form, asdisclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent publication HEI 1-153410,Japanese Laid-open Patent publication HEI 2-4626 or Japanese Laid-openPatent publication HEI 2-32929, a machine which folds back acontinuously fed film, overlaps both folded back end peripheries of thefilm and vertically seals such end peripheries by means of a verticalseal mechanism, fills a content in the inside of the vertically sealedfilm, laterally seals this film by means of lateral seal mechanisms soas to form pouches and cuts the central portions of the laterally sealedportions by means of a cutter mechanism to separate these pouches assingle-pack pouches and transfers them or alternatively laterally sealsthe film by means of lateral seal mechanisms to form pouches andtransfers pouches which are connected in a continuous form, and packagesthese pouches in an accommodating box, is known. One example of such amachine is explained in conjunction with FIG. 5.

In the drawing, numeral 1 indicates a machine base and holder frames 2are disposed at the side portion of the machine base 1. Film rolls Rwhich is made of films F wound in a roll form are replaceably mounted onthe holder frames 2. A film guide portion 3 and a film folding backportion 4 are disposed at the upper portion of the machine base 1. Tothe front surface portion of the machine base 1, a vertical sealmechanism 5, a first and second lateral seal mechanisms 6, 7, and acutter mechanism 8 are provided in the order from above. The film F ispulled out from one film roll R in a roll form and the film F is leadout to the film folding back portion 4 by way of the film guide portion3. The film F is folded back in a double folded manner along alongitudinal direction by the film folding back portion 4. The foldedback end peripheral portions of the film F are subjected to a heat sealby means of a pair of vertical seal rolls 9 of the vertical sealmechanism 5 which face each other in an opposed manner and then are fedout. The film F is formed in a cylindrical shape by means of thisvertical seal portion FH. The film F is heat sealed in a lateraldirection by means of a pair of lateral seal rolls 10 of the firstlateral seal mechanism 6 which face each other in an opposed manner soas to form bottoms of packing bags by means of these lateral sealportions FS. In the inside of the film F formed in a cylindrical shapehaving the bottom, a content W made of a liquid such as sauce is filled.The film F is further advanced and the bag opening side of the film F isagain laterally sealed by means of a pair of lateral seal rolls 10 ofthe first lateral seal mechanism 6 to hermetically fill the content Wand this lateral sealed portion FS is again hermetically sealed so as toseal three sides of the film F thus forming pouches P by means of a pairof lateral seal rolls 10A provided to the second lateral seal mechanism7. Subsequently, the intermediate portions of the lateral sealedportions FS which are provided for forming the pouches P are cut by thecutter mechanism 8 so as to form pouches P in a single-pack form and thepouches are transferred. Alternatively, after forming pouches P bylaterally sealing the film F by means of the lateral seal mechanisms 6,7, the operation of the cutter mechanism 8 is stopped and the pouches Pin a continuous-pack form which are made of continuously connectedpouches P are transferred.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned pouches P which are formed such thatthree sides thereof are sealed may be formed as shown in FIG. 6, whereinthe pouch P which is filled with the content W is formed by a verticalsealed portion FH which is formed by heat sealing both folded back endportions of the film F by means of the vertical seal rolls 9 and thelateral seal portions FS which are heat sealed by means of the lateralseal rolls 10, 10A in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinaldirection of the film F.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the pouches P may be formed such thatfour sides of the film F are sealed by vertical seal portions FH1, FH2which are formed by respectively heat sealing the folded back endportions and the back-like peripheral portion of the film F by means oftwo vertical seal rolls not shown in drawings and lateral seal portionsFS which are formed by heat sealing the film F by means of lateral sealrolls not shown in drawings in a direction perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction of the film F.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, the pouches P may be formed such thattwo sheets of films F1, F2 are overlapped and pulled out while beingguided, both side peripheral portions of these films F1, F2 arerespectively heat sealed by two vertical seal rolls not shown indrawings to form a bag in a cylindrical form with vertical sealedportions FH1, FH2 at both sides of the films F1, F2 and subsequently,lateral sealed portions FS are formed by heat sealing the bag by meansof lateral seal rolls not shown in the drawing in a directionperpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film F so as to formpouches P which have four sides thereof heat sealed.

Furthermore, a filling and packaging machine shown in FIG. 9 or the likeis also proposed. In the drawing, a sheet of film F is pulled out whilebeing guided in a half folded condition, the folded back end portionswhich are half folded back and the central portion of the folded backfilm F are respectively heat sealed by two vertical seal rolls not shownin the drawing such that cylindrical bags in two rows are formed by theheat sealed vertical seal portions FH1, FH2, and contents W1, W2 ofdifferent kinds, sauce and mayonnaise or soy sauce and spicy oil, forexample, are filled in cylindrical bags of respective rows, andsubsequently, the film F is heat sealed in a direction perpendicular tothe longitudinal direction of the film F by means of lateral seal rollsnot shown in the drawing, whereby pouches P are packaged and sealed intwo rows by these heat sealed lateral sealed portions FS and theabove-mentioned vertical sealed portions FH1, FH2.

By the way, at the time of forming the packaging pouches P as shown inthe above-mentioned FIG. 7-FIG. 9, in case the width or the verticalseal position of the pouch P to be packaged is different, in general, asshown in FIG. 10, at least one vertical seal roll 9A out of verticalseal rolls 9, 9A which are fixedly mounted on the rotating shaft 5A ofthe vertical seal mechanism 5 is movably adjusted relative to therotating shaft 5A corresponding to the width and the vertical sealposition of the film F and hence, the vertical sealed position FH2 isset corresponding to the width of the pouch P.

In this case, the rotating shaft 5A is inserted in the vertical sealroll 9A such that the vertical seal roll 9A is disposed around the outerperipheral portion of the rotating shaft 5A. This vertical seal roll 9Ais mounted on and fixedly secured to the rotating shaft 5A at a givenposition by fastening with bolts or the like.

Here, a heater not shown in the drawing is incorporated in the rotaryshaft 5A and the heat of this heater is transmitted to the vertical sealrolls 9, 9A by way of the rotating shaft 5A and hence, the vertical sealrolls 9, 9A are heated. The conventional heater, however, is fixedlysecured to the rotating shaft 5A and hence, a given temperaturedistribution is present corresponding to the mounting position of theheater relative to the rotating shaft 5A. In general, in a longitudinaldirection of the heater, the temperature takes the highest value aroundthe central portion of the heater and is lowered gradually in adirection from the central portion to the end portions of the heater. Inthis case, to compare the movable vertical seal roll 9A with the fixedvertical seal roll 9, the distances between the respective vertical sealrolls 9, 9A and the heater are different so that the surfacetemperatures of the seal portions of the vertical seal rolls 9, 9Abecome different and hence, the vertical sealed portion FH1 and thevertical sealed portion FH2 differ in the sealed condition.

Accordingly, although the heater can cope with pouches with a narrowdistance between the vertical sealed portion FH1 and the vertical sealedportion FH2, this temperature difference becomes remarkable with respectto pouches with a wide distance between the vertical sealed portion FH1and the vertical sealed portion FH2. Therefore, while the proper sealingis obtained at one vertical sealed portion, the film is excessivelyfused at the other vertical sealed portion or, in an opposite case, thefilm is insufficiently fused or adhered thus resulting in the sealingfailure.

Furthermore, two pairs of vertical seal rolls 9, 9A differ in theirrespective shapes and volumes and hence, they differ in the heatcapacities, the manner of transmitting heat and also in the heatradiation condition. Although the surface temperatures of the sealedportions of two pairs of the vertical seal rolls 9, 9A may be made equalby performing a calculation in a thermal engineering mannercorresponding to the volumes and the shapes and then, by differing thewinding densities of the heater in a longitudinal direction of theheater, for example, there arises a problem that it pushes up the designcost and the manufacturing cost.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a heatseal device of a filling and packaging machine which can assure thestable sealed condition of the vertically sealed parts, wherein thesurface temperatures of the sealed portions which are respectivelyprovided to two pairs of vertical seal rolls mounted on the rotatingshafts with a given distance in an axial direction of the rotatingshafts are made substantially equal with a simple construction.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a heat seal device of a filling andpackaging machine, wherein a continuously fed film is vertically sealedby a vertical seal mechanism so as to form the film in a cylindricalshape and sealed laterally by lateral seal mechanisms so as to form abottom portion which forms packaging bags, contents are filled in thefilm formed in the bottomed cylindrical shape and, while the film isfed, a portion of the film which forms a bag opening portion side issealed laterally by the lateral seal mechanisms for continuouslypackaging as pouches, the improvement being characterized in that thevertical seal mechanism comprises a pair of rotating shaftsincorporating heaters and mounted rotatably and two pairs of verticalseal rolls which are mounted in pairs on the rotating shafts with agiven distance in the axial direction of the rotating shafts and haveseal portions protruded in a flange shape around outer peripheralportions of said vertical seal rolls respectively, the heatersincorporated in the rotating shafts are disposed movably along the axialdirection of the rotating shafts with the position of the heaterscapable of being adjusted movably relative to the position of two pairsof the vertical seal rolls so that the surface temperatures of the sealportions of two pairs of the vertical seal rolls are made generallyequal to each other. Due to such a constitution, the surfacetemperatures of the respective seal portions which are provided to twopair of the vertical seal rolls mounted on the rotating shaft with agiven distance in an axial direction of the rotating shaft can besubstantially made equal readily and the sealed condition of thevertical sealed portions can be made stable.

Furthermore, according to the above-mentioned heat seal device of thefilling and packaging machine, the rotating shaft is made of a hollowshaft, the heater is inserted into the inside of the hollow shaft, andthe heater is movably disposed in the inside of the hollow shaft. Due tosuch a constitution, the rotating shafts made of the hollow shafts areheated by the heater and then two pairs of the vertical seal rolls whichare mounted on the outer peripheral portions of the rotating shaft areheated by way of the rotating shafts. Here, the heaters incorporated inthe rotating shafts are movably disposed along the axial direction ofthe rotating shaft and the position of the heater can be moved andadjusted in the inside of the hollow shaft relative to the positions oftwo pairs of the vertical seal rolls such that the surface temperaturesof the respective sealed portions provided to two pairs of vertical sealrolls can be substantially made equal and hence, the temperatures of thevertical seal rolls which respectively form pairs can be maintained at asubstantially constant value.

Furthermore, according to the above-mentioned heat seal device of thefilling and packaging machine, spacers are provided to end portions ofthe heaters and the heaters are pressed by way of the spacers for makingthe heaters movable. Due to such a constitution, at the time of movingand adjusting the position of the heaters relative to the position oftwo pairs of the vertical seal rolls in the inside of rotating shaftsmade of the hollow shafts by way of the spacers, the heaters can beprotected by the spacers and hence, the heaters are prevented from therupture thereof.

Furthermore, according to the above-mentioned heat seal device of thefilling and packaging machine, at least one pair of the vertical sealrolls are mounted such that the vertical seal rolls can be movedrelative to the rotating shaft in an axial direction of the rotatingshaft. Due to such a constitution, the vertical seal roll mountingposition can be readily moved and adjusted along the axial direction ofthe rotating shaft corresponding to the width of the pouches or thevertical sealed positions. Furthermore, the heater can be moved andadjusted corresponding to the position of the vertical seal rolls whichare moved and adjusted in the above mentioned manner. Accordingly, thesurface temperatures of the vertical seal rolls which respectively formpairs can be set to substantially equal value and hence, the stablesealed condition can be obtained.

Furthermore, according to the above-mentioned heat seal device of thefilling and packaging machine, the vertical seal rolls are provided withtemperature detection means. Due to such a constitution, the temperatureof the vertical seal rolls can be measured by the temperature detectionmeans and hence, the surface temperatures of the vertical seal rollportions can be substantially made equal and the degree of sealing atthe sealed portions formed by respective pairs of the vertical sealrollers can be made equal thus stabilizing the sealed condition of thevertical sealed portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a filling and packaging machine showing oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a vertical seal mechanism with a part insection of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an essential part of the verticalseal mechanism of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of an essential part of the verticalseal mechanism of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a filling and packaging machine of aconventional example.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of packaging bags of a conventional examplehaving three sides thereof sealed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of packaging bags having four sides thereofsealed to which a conventional example and the present invention areapplicable.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of packaging bags which are formed of twosheets of films to which a conventional example and the presentinvention are applicable.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of packaging bags which are formed in tworows to which a conventional example and the present invention areapplicable.

FIG. 10 is a front view of an essential part showing a vertical sealmechanism which and showing one of conventional examples.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter explained inconjunction with attached drawings. FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 show one embodimentof the present invention, wherein at a side of a machine base 11 of afilling and packaging machine, holder frames 12 which replaceably holdfilm rolls R wound in a roll shape are disposed and the films F arepulled out from the film rolls R supported by the holder frames 12 whilebeing guided by the holder frames 12.

On the upper portion of the machine base 11, a film guide portion 13made of a film slackening prevention mechanism is mounted such that thefilm F which passes through this film guide portion 13 is led to a filmfolding back portion 14. An adjusting mechanism 15 which is capable ofadjusting the movement of the film F corresponding to the width of thefilm F is provided to the film folding back portion 14. A bar-like guiderod 16 which supports and guides the folded back portion of the film Fis also provided to the film folding back portion 14 in a verticallydownwardly extending manner.

A pair of nozzles 18, 18A which are provided to a filling mechanism 17and vertically downwardly extend are arranged in parallel with thisguide rod 16. Through these respective nozzles 18, 18A, contents W1, W2such as sauce, mayonnaise, soy sauce or the like can be filled.

Below the film folding back portion 14, on the front surface of themachine base 1, a vertical seal mechanism 19, first and second lateralseal mechanisms 20, 21 and a cutter mechanism 22 are disposed in theorder from the above. Upon actuation of the cutter mechanism 22, pouchesp are cut out as packaged single-pack pouches and these pouches P aretransferred by way of a discharge mechanism 23. Alternatively, theoperation of the cutter mechanism 22 is stopped and pouches P are formedby laterally sealing the film by means of the lateral seal mechanisms20, 21 and pouches P which are connected in a continuous manner aredischarged through the discharge mechanism 23.

By the way, in the vertical seal mechanism 19 of the present invention,bearing bases 24, 24A are mounted on the front surface of the machinebase 11 and a pair of rotating shafts 25 which are provided to thevertical seal mechanism 19 are rotatably supported between and by thebearing bases 24, 24A. A pair of the rotating shafts 25 are disposed inparallel to each other such that they sandwich the above-mentioned guiderod 16 and respective nozzles 18, 18A. One rotating shaft 25 and theother rotating shaft 25 are respectively provided with helical gears 26which are meshed with each other. A driven bevel gear 27 is integrallymounted on one helical gear 26 and the driven bevel gear 27 is meshedwith a driving bevel gear 29 which is driven by a drive device 28installed in the inside of the machine base 11.

Furthermore, a pair of first vertical seal rolls 31 are mounted on apair of rotating shafts 25 such that the rotating shafts 25 pass throughthe first vertical seal rolls 31, wherein the first vertical seal rolls31 are provided with seal portions 30 which protrude like a flange onthe outer peripheral portions thereof for overlapping and heat sealingboth folded back end peripheries of the folded back film F which arefolded back by the film folding back portion 14. The respective verticalseal rolls 31 are fixedly mounted on the rotating shafts 25 by way offixed nuts 32.

Furthermore, in case of forming and sealing pouches P shown in FIG. 9,in addition to the first vertical seal rolls 31, a heat seal mechanismwhich heat seals the central portion of the folded back film F in avertical direction is provided. In this embodiment, second vertical sealrolls 34 which are formed with mounting holes 33 allowing respectiverotating shafts 25 pass therethrough and vertically seal the centralportion of the folded back film F are movably mounted on with the outerperipheral portions of the rotating shafts 15 along the axial directionof the rotating shafts 25.

These second vertical seal rolls 34 are disposed in a spaced apartmanner with a given distance in the axial direction of the rotatingshafts 25 relative to the first vertical seal rolls 31. The secondvertical seal rolls 34 are provided with seal portions 35 which protrudelike a flange on the outer peripheral portions thereof. With such aprovision, the central portion of the film F which is folded back andfed is pressed and heat sealed along with the rotation of a pair of thesecond vertical seal rolls 34.

At the sides of the second vertical seal rolls 34, annular grooveportions 37 which are formed with tapered surfaces 36 in the insidethereof are provided. Due to these annular groove portions 37, annulartapered thin film portions 38 are formed at the mounting hole 33 sides.By inserting and disposing taper rings 39 which have an approximatelysame shape as that of the annular groove portions 37 in the annulargroove portions 37, inserting and disposing the tapered rings 39 in theinside of the annular groove portions 37 of the second vertical sealrolls 34 and then inserting fastening bolts 40 into bolt inserting holes41 formed in the second vertical seal rolls 34 and bolt mounting holes42 formed in the tapered rings 39 and fastening these fastening bolts 40by rotation, threaded portions 42A formed in the bolt mounting holes 42and threaded portions 40A of the fastening bolt 40 are engaged with eachother. Due to such an engagement, the tapered rings 39 are fitted intothe annular groove portions 37 formed in the second vertical seal roll34 in the depth direction thereof, that is, along the axial direction ofthe rotating shafts 25. Simultaneously with this operation, the taperedthin film portions 38 formed on the second vertical seal rolls 34 havethe diameter thereof narrowed toward the outer peripheral surface of therotating shafts 25 and hence, the tapered thin film portions 38 arefastened and secured to the outer peripheral surface of the rotatingshafts 25. Accordingly, the second vertical seal rolls 34 are fixedlysecured to the rotating shafts 25 at a given position which is a givendistance spaced apart from the first vertical seal rolls 31 in the axialdirection of the rotating shafts 25.

In this manner, the vertical seal mechanisms 19 are constructed suchthat two pairs of vertical seal rolls 31, 34 having seal portions 30, 35which protrude like a flange on the outer peripheral portions thereofare mounted on the rotating shafts 25 while forming pairs respectivelyin a spaced apart manner from each other with a given distance in theaxial direction of the rotating shafts 25.

A pair of the rotating shafts 25, 25 are made of hollow shafts andheaters H are respectively disposed in the insides of the hollow shafts.The rotating shafts 25 are heated by these heaters H and the firstvertical seal rolls 31 and the second vertical seal rolls 34 are heatedby way of these heated rotating shafts 25.

The heaters H incorporated in the rotating shafts 25 are movablydisposed in the axial direction of the rotating shafts 25. The positionof the heaters H relative to the position of two pairs of vertical sealrolls 31, 34 can be moved and adjusted in the insides of the hollowshafts such that the surface temperatures of the respective sealportions 30, 35 of two pairs of vertical seal rolls 31, 34 made of thefirst vertical seal rolls 31 and the second vertical seal rolls 34become substantially equal.

To explain more concretely, the rotating shafts 25 are provided withhollow portions 43 which extend through from one sides to the othersides of the rotary shafts 25. Bar-like heaters H having an outerdiameter slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the hollow portions43 are inserted in the hollow portions 43 and spacers 44 aresimultaneously inserted in the hollow portions 43 such that spacers 44are provided to both end portions of the heaters H. Then, the heaters Hare pressed by pusher bars not shown in the drawing by way of thespacers 44 such that the heaters H are deeply inserted into the insidesof the rotating shafts 25. Simultaneously, pusher bars are inserted intothe rotating shafts 25 from one-side opening portions or other-sideopening portions of the rotating shafts 25 and spacers 44 are pushed bythese pusher bars so as to set the heaters H at proper positions.

Due to such a positional setting, in the condition that electricity issupplied to the heaters H, the surface temperatures of the seal portions30, 35 of the first and second vertical seal rolls 31, 34 are madesubstantially equal. Accordingly, the degree of sealing of the sealedportions FH1, FH2 which are formed by the first and second vertical sealrolls 31, 34 can be made equal and hence, the sealed condition of thevertical sealed portions FH1, FH2 can be stabilized.

That is, by merely balancing the temperatures of the seal portions 30,35 of the first and second vertical seal rolls 31, 34, a proper seal canbe obtained by setting the temperature of the heaters H and hence, thesealed condition can be made stable.

Furthermore, with the provision of the spacers 44, at the time ofpressing the heaters H by pushing the heaters H with the push bars, theheaters H are not directly pushed by the push bars but are pushed by wayof the spacers 44 and hence, an effect that the rupture of the heaters Hcan be prevented is obtained.

As has been described above, in the filling and packaging machine of theembodiment, the film F is pulled out from the film roll R wound like aroll while being guided, this continuously transferred film F is fed tothe film folding back portion 14 by way of the film guide portion 13,the film F is fed to the vertical heat seal mechanism 19 in thecondition that the film F is folded back in a double fold along theguide rod 16 provided to the film folding back portion 14, the film F isvertically sealed in the vertical direction by means of the firstvertical seal rolls 31 while overlapping the both folded back endperipheries of the folded back film F, the central portion of the foldedback film F is vertically sealed in the vertical direction by means ofthe second vertical seal rolls 34, the film F is formed in cylindricalbags in two row by the respective vertical seal portions FH1, FH2 whichare vertically sealed by the first and second vertical seal rolls 31, 34as shown in FIG. 9, then the film F is laterally sealed in the lateraldirection by a pair of opposing lateral seal rolls 20A of the firstlateral seal mechanism 20 thus forming bottoms of the packaging bags bythe lateral sealed portions FS, contents W1, W2 such as liquids arefilled in the inside of the film F which are formed into bottomedcylinders in two rows by way of two nozzles 18, 18A provided to thefilling mechanism 17, furthermore, the portions which form the bagopening sides of the film F are laterally sealed by the lateral sealrolls 20A of the first lateral seal mechanism 20 while feeding the filmF so as to hermetically seal the contents W1, W2, these hermeticallysealed lateral seal portions FS are sealed in duplicate by means of thelateral seal rolls 21A of the second lateral seal mechanism 21 and threesides of the film F are sealed so as to form the pouches p, then theintermediate portions of the lateral seal portions FS provided forforming the pouches P are cut into pouches P of single-pack package bymeans of the cutter mechanism 22, and these cut pouches P aretransferred by way of the transfer mechanism 23 or alternatively thecontinuous pouches P are transferred in a continuously connected form byway of the transfer mechanism 23 provided that the operation of thecutter mechanism 22 is stopped.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, at the time of forming the pouches Pwhile filling the contents W1, W2 therein, in case the width of thepouch P for packaging or the vertical sealing position is different,since the position of the both folded end peripheries of the film Fwhich is folded back and guided by the film folding back portion 14 isused as the reference usually, the mounting position of the firstvertical seal rolls 31 which vertically seal the film F whileoverlapping both folded back end peripheries of the film F is fixed andthe first vertical seal rolls 31 are fixedly secured to the rotatingshafts 25, and corresponding to an amount of difference of width of thepouches P or the vertical seal position, the mounting position of thesecond vertical seal rolls 34 is movably adjusted along the axialdirection of the rotating shafts 25.

In this case, corresponding to the width of the film F, the guide rod 16which supports the folded back portion of the film F is movably adjustedby way of the adjusting mechanism 15. Furthermore, in case of adjustingthe position of the second vertical seal rolls 34 which vertically heatseal the folded back portion of the folded back film F and the centralportion of the both folded back end peripheries of the film F,respective fastening bolts 40 are slackened so as to release thethreading force exerted between the threaded portions 40A of therespective fastening bolts 40 and the threading portions 42A formed inthe bolt mounting hole 42 of the tapered ring 39 and hence, the taperedrings 39 are operated in a direction opposite to the depth direction ofthe annular groove portion 37 formed on the second vertical seal roll34, that is, the slackening direction so that the fitted condition thatthe tapered rings 39 are fitted into the annular groove portions 37mounted on the second vertical seal rolls 34 is released. Accordingly,the fastening force applied the taped thin film portions 38 provided tothe second vertical seal rolls 34 pressurized by the tapered rings 39 iseliminated and hence, the tapered thin film portions 38 which had thediameter thereof narrowed toward the outer peripheral surfaces of therotating shafts 25 and were fixedly secured to the outer peripheralsurfaces of the rotating shafts 25 by fastening are allowed to bemovable in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 25. Accordingly,corresponding to the vertical seal positions of the central portions ofthe folded back film F, the second vertical seal rolls 34 are movablyadjusted. After this adjustment, the fastening bolts 40 are fastened byrotation so as to make the tapered rings 39 inserted into the annulargroove portions 37 of the second vertical seal rolls 34 and hence, thetapered thin film portion 38 formed in the second vertical seal roll 34is narrowed toward the outer peripheral surfaces of the rotating shafts25 by way of the tapered rings 39 and are fastened and fixedly securedto outer peripheral surfaces of the rotating shafts 25.

In case the mounting position of the second vertical seal rolls 34 ismovably adjusted along the axial direction of the rotating shafts 25corresponding to the width of the pouches P and the vertical sealposition in the above-mentioned manner, the pusher bars are inserted inthe hollow portions 43 of the rotating shafts 25 and push the heaters Hfrom one side or the other side so as to movably adjust the heaters Hand hence, the heaters H can be positioned and set corresponding to themoved second vertical seal rolls 34 such that the surface temperaturesof the seal portions 30, 35 of the first and second vertical seal rolls31, 34 are made substantially equal.

The surface temperature of the seal portions 30, 35 of the vertical sealrolls 31, 34 can be measured, for example, by mounting temperaturedetecting means such as thermocouples not shown in drawings on therespective vertical seal rolls 31, 34.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the example where a sheet of film Fis pulled and guided in the half folded condition, and the both foldedback end portions which are folded back in the half folded condition andthe central portion of the folded back portion are heat sealed in thevertical direction in a cylindrical shape in two rows to form pouches Pby means of two vertical seal rolls 31, 34 has been described. However,for example, with respect to an embodiment where four sides of the filmF are sealed so as to form pouches P as shown in FIG. 7 and anembodiment where two sheets of films F1, F2 are pulled and guided whilebeing overlapped and both side end peripheries of the respective filmsF1, F2 are vertically heat sealed by means of two vertical seal rolls31, 34 and simultaneously four sides of the films F1, F2 are sealed soas to form pouches P as shown in FIG. 8, the same operations and effectsas those of the previously mentioned embodiment can be obtained byadopting the position adjusting mechanism which is capable of adjustingthe position of the heaters H corresponding to the position adjustingmechanism of the vertical seal rolls 31, 34.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentionedembodiment and various modified embodiments can be made within the scopeof the gist of the present invention. For example, the pusher rods whichare not shown in drawings are fixedly mounted on the rotating shafts andthreaded portions are formed in end portions of the pusher rods and theposition of the heater can be finely adjusted from outside by rotatingthe threaded portions.

Furthermore, although the first and second vertical seal rolls arerespectively individually mounted in the previously mentionedembodiment, the first and second vertical seal rolls may be integrallyformed to constitute a vertical seal roll.

As has been explained in detail, according to the present invention, theheat seal device of the filling and packaging machine where with asimple constitution, the surface temperatures of the seal portions ofthe vertical seal rolls disposed in a spaced apart manner with a givendistance in the axial direction of the rotating shaft are madesubstantially equal and hence, the degree of sealing of respectivevertical seal portions formed by the seal portions of the respectivevertical seal rolls can be made equal thus stabilizing the sealedcondition of the vertical seal portions can be provided.

Furthermore, in case the mounting positions of the vertical seal rollsare movably adjusted along the axial direction of the rotating shaftcorresponding to the width of the pouches P and the vertical sealpositions, the heater is movably adjusted such that corresponding to themoved vertical seal rolls, the heater is positioned and set so as tomake the surface temperature of the seal portions provided to the firstand second vertical seal rolls substantially equal. Accordingly, thefurther effect can be obtained.

Industrial Applicability

As has been described heretofore, the present invention discloses theheat seal device of the filling and packaging machine where the filmwound like a roll is formed into bags and contents such as liquid,powdery material, or pasty material are filled into packaging bags. Thepresent invention is useful to the mechanism for movably adjusting theposition of a pair of the vertical seal rolls provided to the verticalseal mechanism at the time of forming the film into a cylindrical shapeby the vertical seal mechanism of the heat seal device corresponding tothe size and the width of the packaging bag for packaging. Particularly,the present invention is adapted for use in eliminating irregularitiesof the heating temperature of the vertical seal rolls by the heaters incase the distances of a plurality of pair of vertical seal rolls have tobe changed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A heat seal device of a filling and packagingmachine, wherein a continuously fed film is vertically sealed by avertical seal mechanism so as to form said film in a cylindrical shapeand is sealed laterally by lateral seal mechanisms so as to form abottom portion which forms packaging bags, contents are filled in saidfilm formed in the bottomed cylindrical shape and, while said film isfed, a portion of said film which forms bag opening portion side issealed laterally by said lateral seal mechanisms for continuouslypackaging as pouches, the improvement being characterized in that saidvertical seal mechanism comprises a pair of rotating shafts,incorporating heaters mounted rotatably, and two pairs of vertical sealrolls which are mounted in pairs on said rotating shafts with a givendistance in the axial direction of said rotating shafts and have sealportions protruded in a flange shape around outer peripheral portionsrespectively, said heaters incorporated in said rotating shafts aredisposed movably along the axial direction of the rotating shafts foradjusting movably the position of the heaters relative to the positionof two pairs of said vertical seal rolls so that the surfacetemperatures of said seal portions of said two pairs of said verticalseal rolls are made generally equal to each other, wherein temperaturedetecting means is mounted on said vertical seal rolls.
 2. A heat sealdevice of a filling and packaging machine according to claim 1, whereinsaid rotating shafts are made of hollow shafts, said heaters areinserted in the inside of said hollow shafts, and said heaters aremovably disposed in the inside of said hollow shafts.
 3. A heat sealdevice of a filling and packaging machine according to claim 2, whereinspacers are provided to end portions of said heaters and said heatersare movable by pushing said heaters by way of said spacers.
 4. A heatseal device of a filling and packaging machine according to claim 1,wherein at least one of said vertical seal rolls is disposed movable inthe axial direction of said rotating shafts relative to said rotatingshafts.